The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

EVENING IN LONDON 50 And thus speaking, she led the way into a narrow court forming the side entrance to a pawnbroker’s shop; then, stopping short under a lamp over the door of that estab- lishment, she said, “‘ Give me the money,” at the same time producing the much coveted pocketbook. Page handed her a small canvas bag containing the gold; but before she parted with his property, she drew out a quantity of the money, examined the pieces with a keen though rapid glance, and having thus satisfied herself that they were genuine, gave him his pocketbook. “ You may open it, sir,’ she remarked; “ and everything will be found quite safe. The bills were of no use to us.”’ The commercial traveller hastily inspected the docu- ments; and perceiving that the woman had spoken the truth, he secured the pocketbook about his person. The Gallows’ Widow was then about to take her departure; but Page stopped her, saying, ‘I want very much to see your friend the Magsman as early as convenient. Indeed, I did think of pushing my way as far as the Beggar’s Staff this evening.” The female darted upon him a look of suspicion; but the commercial traveller kept his countenance admirably; and: he saw her features gradually relapse into an expression of confidence. “Well,” she said, after a brief pause, “ I am going that way, and so you can accompany me if you choose.” “ Willingly,” answered Page. And away they went together. Plunging now into the vile, filthy, and dangerous district on the southern bank of the Thames, — a neighbourhood which was lighted only by the shop-windows and not by street-lamps, — and unable to see his way clearly enough to avoid the pools of water and the heaps of mud which abounded in that locality, the commercial traveller walked by his companion’s side, at first in profound silence. In fact, he had quite enough to do in endeavouring to pick his path; for at one moment he stumbled over a stone, at an- other he trod upon a dead dog, then he slipped into a hole, spattering himself even to the very countenance with slime, and next he was wading through a pile of filth accumulated at some corner. The farther he went, the darker became the neighbourhood; for the inhabitants were shutting up CONnnicloool Ks (GO)